Archive

It’s been a while but once again here is the latest instalment of the series of posts where I install the major, full desktop, distributions into a limited hardware machine and report on how they perform. Onceagain, andlikebefore, I’ve decided to re-run my previousteststhis time using the following distributions:

Debian 8.2 (Cinnamon)

Debian 8.2 (GNOME)

Debian 8.2 (KDE)

Debian 8.2 (MATE)

Debian 8.2 (Xfce)

Elementary OS 0.3.1 (Freya)

Kubuntu 15.10 (KDE)

Linux Mint 17.2 (Cinnamon)

Linux Mint 17.2 (MATE)

Linux Mint 17.2 (Xfce)

Mageia 5 (GNOME)

Mageia 5 (KDE)

Ubuntu 15.10 (Unity)

Xubuntu 15.10 (Xfce)

I also attempted to try and install Fedora 23, Linux Mint 17.2 (KDE) and OpenSUSE 42.1 but none of them were able to complete installation.

All of the tests were done within VirtualBox on ‘machines’ with the following specifications:

Total RAM: 512MB

Hard drive: 10GB

CPU type: x86 with PAE/NX

Graphics: 3D Acceleration enabled

The tests were all done using VirtualBox 5, and I did not install VirtualBox tools (although some distributions may have shipped with them). I also left the screen resolution at the default (whatever the distribution chose) and accepted the installation defaults. All tests were run prior to December 2015 so your results may not be identical.

Results

Just as before I have compiled a series of bar graphs to show you how each installation stacks up against one another. Measurements were taken using the free -m command for memory and the df -h command for disk usage.

Like before I have provided the results file as a download so you can see exactly what the numbers were or create your own custom comparisons (see below for link).

Things to know before looking at the graphs

First off if your distribution of choice didn’t appear in the list above its probably not reasonably possible to be installed (i.e. I don’t have hours to compile Gentoo) or I didn’t feel it was mainstream enough (pretty much anything with LXDE). As always feel free to run your own tests and link them in the comments for everyone to see.

Quick Info

Out of the Cinnamon desktops tested Debian 8.2 had the lowest memory footprint

Out of the GNOME desktops tested Mageia 5 had the lowest memory footprint

Out of the KDE desktops tested Mageia 5 had the lowest memory footprint

Out of the Xfce desktops tested Debian 8.2 had the lowest memory footprint

Out of the MATE desktops tested Debian 8.2 had the lowest memory footprint

Elementary OS 0.3.1 had the highest memory footprint of those tested

Debian 8.2 Xfce and MATE tied for the lowest memory footprint of those tested

Debian 8.2 Xfce had the lowest install size of those tested

Kubuntu 15.10 had the largest install size of those tested

Elementary OS 0.3.1 had the lowest change after updates (+2MiB)

Mageia 5 KDE had the largest change after updates (-265MiB)

First boot memory (RAM) usage

This test was measured on the first startup after finishing a fresh install.

Memory (RAM) usage after updates

This test was performed after all updates were installed and a reboot was performed.

Memory (RAM) usage change after updates

The net growth or decline in RAM usage after applying all of the updates.

Install size after updates

The hard drive space used by the distribution after applying all of the updates.

Conclusion

Once again I will leave the conclusions to you. Source data provided below.

I am currently running a variety of distributions, primarily Linux Mint 18.Previously I was running KDE 4.3.3 on top of Fedora 11 (for the first experiment) and KDE 4.6.5 on top of Gentoo (for the second experiment).

It’s been a while but once again here is the latest instalment of the series of posts where I install the major, full desktop, distributions into a limited hardware machine and report on how they perform. Onceagain, andlikebefore, I’ve decided to re-run my previoustests this time using the following distributions:

Debian 8 (Cinnamon)

Debian 8 (GNOME)

Debian 8 (KDE)

Debian 8 (MATE)

Debian 8 (Xfce)

Elementary OS 0.3 (Freya)

Kubuntu 15.04 (KDE)

Linux Mint 17.1 (Cinnamon)

Linux Mint 17.1 (KDE)

Linux Mint 17.1 (MATE)

Linux Mint 17.1 (Xfce)

Mageia 4.1 (GNOME)

Mageia 4.1 (KDE)

OpenSUSE 13.2 (GNOME)

OpenSUSE 13.2 (KDE)

Ubuntu 15.04 (Unity)

Ubuntu Mate (MATE)

Xubuntu 15.04 (Xfce)

I also attempted to try and install Fedora 21 and Linux Mint 17.2 (KDE) but it just wouldn’t go.

All of the tests were done within VirtualBox on ‘machines’ with the following specifications:

Total RAM: 512MB

Hard drive: 8GB

CPU type: x86 with PAE/NX

Graphics: 3D Acceleration enabled

The tests were all done using VirtualBox 4.3.30, and I did not install VirtualBox tools (although some distributions may have shipped with them). I also left the screen resolution at the default (whatever the distribution chose) and accepted the installation defaults. All tests were run prior to June 2015 so your results may not be identical.

Results

Just as before I have compiled a series of bar graphs to show you how each installation stacks up against one another. Measurements were taken using the free -m command for memory and the df -h command for disk usage.

Like before I have provided the results file as a download so you can see exactly what the numbers were or create your own custom comparisons (see below for link).

Things to know before looking at the graphs

First off if your distribution of choice didn’t appear in the list above its probably not reasonably possible to be installed (i.e. I don’t have hours to compile Gentoo) or I didn’t feel it was mainstream enough (pretty much anything with LXDE). As always feel free to run your own tests and link them in the comments for everyone to see.

First boot memory (RAM) usage

This test was measured on the first startup after finishing a fresh install.

Memory (RAM) usage after updates

This test was performed after all updates were installed and a reboot was performed.

Memory (RAM) usage change after updates

The net growth or decline in RAM usage after applying all of the updates.

Install size after updates

The hard drive space used by the distribution after applying all of the updates.

Conclusion

Once again I will leave the conclusions to you. Source data provided below.

I am currently running a variety of distributions, primarily Linux Mint 18.Previously I was running KDE 4.3.3 on top of Fedora 11 (for the first experiment) and KDE 4.6.5 on top of Gentoo (for the second experiment).

It’s been a while but once again here is the latest instalment of the series of posts where I install the major, full desktop, distributions into a limited hardware machine and report on how they perform. Once again, andlikebefore, I’ve decided to re-run my previoustests this time using the following distributions:

Debian 7.6 (GNOME)

Elementary OS 0.2 (Luna)

Fedora 20 (GNOME)

Kubuntu 14.04 (KDE)

Linux Mint 17 (Cinnamon)

Linux Mint 17 (MATE)

Mageia 4.1 (GNOME)

Mageia 4.1 (KDE)

OpenSUSE 13.1 (GNOME)

OpenSUSE 13.1 (KDE)

Ubuntu 14.04 (Unity)

Xubuntu 14.04 (Xfce)

I also attempted to try and install Fedora 20 (KDE) but it just wouldn’t go.

All of the tests were done within VirtualBox on ‘machines’ with the following specifications:

Total RAM: 512MB

Hard drive: 8GB

CPU type: x86 with PAE/NX

Graphics: 3D Acceleration enabled

The tests were all done using VirtualBox 4.3.12, and I did not install VirtualBox tools (although some distributions may have shipped with them). I also left the screen resolution at the default (whatever the distribution chose) and accepted the installation defaults. All tests were run between October 6th, 2014 and October 13th, 2014 so your results may not be identical.

Results

Just as before I have compiled a series of bar graphs to show you how each installation stacks up against one another. Measurements were taken using the free -m command for memory and the df -h command for disk usage.

Like before I have provided the results file as a download so you can see exactly what the numbers were or create your own custom comparisons (see below for link).

Things to know before looking at the graphs

First off if your distribution of choice didn’t appear in the list above its probably not reasonably possible to be installed (i.e. I don’t have hours to compile Gentoo) or I didn’t feel it was mainstream enough (pretty much anything with LXDE). As always feel free to run your own tests and link them in the comments for everyone to see.

First boot memory (RAM) usage

This test was measured on the first startup after finishing a fresh install.

All Data Points

RAM

Buffers/Cache

RAM – Buffers/Cache

Swap Usage

RAM – Buffers/Cache + Swap

Memory (RAM) usage after updates

This test was performed after all updates were installed and a reboot was performed.

All Data Points

RAM

Buffers/Cache

RAM – Buffers/Cache

Swap Usage

RAM – Buffers/Cache + Swap

Memory (RAM) usage change after updates

The net growth or decline in RAM usage after applying all of the updates.

All Data Points

RAM

Buffers/Cache

RAM – Buffers/Cache

Swap Usage

RAM – Buffers/Cache + Swap

Install size after updates

The hard drive space used by the distribution after applying all of the updates.

Install Size

Conclusion

Once again I will leave the conclusions to you. Source data provided below.

I am currently running a variety of distributions, primarily Linux Mint 18.Previously I was running KDE 4.3.3 on top of Fedora 11 (for the first experiment) and KDE 4.6.5 on top of Gentoo (for the second experiment).

It’s that time again where I install the major, full desktop, distributions into a limited hardware machine and report on how they perform. Once again, andlikebefore, I’ve decided to re-run my previoustests this time using the following distributions:

Fedora 18 (GNOME)

Fedora 18 (KDE)

Fedora 19 (GNOME

Fedora 19 (KDE)

Kubuntu 13.04 (KDE)

Linux Mint 15 (Cinnamon)

Linux Mint 15 (MATE)

Mageia 3 (GNOME)

Mageia 3 (KDE)

OpenSUSE 12.3 (GNOME)

OpenSUSE 12.3 (KDE)

Ubuntu 13.04 (Unity)

Xubuntu 13.04 (Xfce)

I even happened to have a Windows 7 (64-bit) VM lying around and, while I think you would be a fool to run a 64-bit OS on the limited test hardware, I’ve included as sort of a benchmark.

All of the tests were done within VirtualBox on ‘machines’ with the following specifications:

Total RAM: 512MB

Hard drive: 8GB

CPU type: x86 with PAE/NX

Graphics: 3D Acceleration enabled

The tests were all done using VirtualBox 4.2.16, and I did not install VirtualBox tools (although some distributions may have shipped with them). I also left the screen resolution at the default (whatever the distribution chose) and accepted the installation defaults. All tests were run between July 1st, 2013 and July 5th, 2013 so your results may not be identical.

Results

Just as before I have compiled a series of bar graphs to show you how each installation stacks up against one another. This time around however I’ve changed how things are measured slightly in order to be more accurate. Measurements (on linux) were taken using the free -m command for memory and the df -h command for disk usage. On Windows I used Task Manager and Windows Explorer.

In addition this will be the first time where I provide the results file as a download so you can see exactly what the numbers were or create your own custom comparisons (see below for link).

Things to know before looking at the graphs

First off if your distribution of choice didn’t appear in the list above its probably not reasonably possible to be installed (i.e. I don’t have hours to compile Gentoo) or I didn’t feel it was mainstream enough (pretty much anything with LXDE). Secondly there may be some distributions that don’t appear on all of the graphs, for example because I was using an existing Windows 7 VM I didn’t have a ‘first boot’ result. As always feel free to run your own tests. Thirdly you may be asking yourself ‘why does Fedora 18 and 19 make the list?’ Well basically because I had already run the tests for 18 and then 19 happened to be released. Finally Fedora 19 (GNOME), while included, does not have any data because I simply could not get it to install.

First boot memory (RAM) usage

This test was measured on the first startup after finishing a fresh install.

All Data Points

RAM

Buffers/Cache

RAM – Buffers/Cache

Swap Usage

RAM – Buffers/Cache + Swap

Memory (RAM) usage after updates

This test was performed after all updates were installed and a reboot was performed.

All Data Points

RAM

Buffers/Cache

RAM – Buffers/Cache

Swap

RAM – Buffers/Cache + Swap

Memory (RAM) usage change after updates

The net growth or decline in RAM usage after applying all of the updates.

All Data Points

RAM

Buffers/Cache

RAM – Buffers/Cache

Swap

RAM – Buffers/Cache + Swap

Install size after updates

The hard drive space used by the distribution after applying all of the updates.

Install Size

Conclusion

Once again I will leave the conclusions to you. This time however, as promised above, I will provide my source data for you to plunder enjoy.

I am currently running a variety of distributions, primarily Linux Mint 18.Previously I was running KDE 4.3.3 on top of Fedora 11 (for the first experiment) and KDE 4.6.5 on top of Gentoo (for the second experiment).

Once again I’ve compiled some charts to show what the major, full desktop distributions look like while running on limited hardware. Just likebefore I’ve decided to re-run my previoustests this time using the following distributions:

I will be testing all of this within VirtualBox on ‘machines’ with the following specifications:

Total RAM: 512MB

Hard drive: 8GB

CPU type: x86 with PAE/NX

Graphics: 3D Acceleration enabled

The tests were all done using VirtualBox 4.1.22, and I did not install VirtualBox tools (although some distributions may have shipped with them). I also left the screen resolution at the default (whatever the distribution chose) and accepted the installation defaults. All tests were run between September 3rd, 2012 and September 14th, 2012 so your results may not be identical.

Results

Following in the tradition of my previous posts I have once again gone through the effort to bring you nothing but the most state of the art in picture graphs for your enjoyment.

Things to know before looking at the graphs

First off if your distribution of choice didn’t appear in the list above its probably not reasonably possible to installed (i.e. I don’t have hours to compile Gentoo) or I didn’t feel it was mainstream enough (pretty much anything with LXDE). Secondly there may be some distributions that don’t appear on all of the graphs, for example Mandriva (now replaced by Mageia). Finally I did not include Debian this time around because it is still at the same version as last time. As always feel free to run your own tests.

First boot memory (RAM) usage

This test was measured on the first startup after finishing a fresh install.

Memory (RAM) usage after updates

This test was performed after all updates were installed and a reboot was performed.

Memory (RAM) usage change after updates

The net growth or decline in RAM usage after applying all of the updates.

Install size after updates

The hard drive space used by the distribution after applying all of the updates.

Conclusion

As before I’m going to leave you to drawing your own conclusions.

I am currently running a variety of distributions, primarily Linux Mint 18.Previously I was running KDE 4.3.3 on top of Fedora 11 (for the first experiment) and KDE 4.6.5 on top of Gentoo (for the second experiment).